 | MATCH SUMMARY Connacht: (12) 33: Tries: Rigney, Warwick, Slemen Cons: Warwick 2, Slemen Pens: Warwick 4
Llanelli: (16): 19 Tries: Daniels, King Pens: Hercus 2, Bowen
Att: 2,000 |
A superb second-half fightback saw basement side Connacht grab only their third win in the Celtic League after defeating the Scarlets in Galway. The Irish province trailed 16-12 at the break with Darren Daniel and Regan King crossing and Mike Hercus landing two penalties for the Scarlets.
However, Colm Rigney and David Slemen crossed and Paul Warwick added a try on top of his four first-half penalties.
The Scarlets' only reply in the second half was a Gareth Bowen penalty.
Connacht began well in sunny conditions, grabbing the lion's share of possession.
Warwick, making his first start in four league games, stroked over two penalties to erase Mike Hercus' fourth-minute opener.
The Llanelli side went back in front when Wales Under-19 international Daniel broke from his own 10-metre line to romp in at the left corner for his first league try.
Warwick then mopped up after Daniel was sin-binned but a third Hercus penalty and King's try, scored in the right corner on half-time.
However, the hosts hit back within 70 seconds of the restart when scrum-half Chris Keane mounted a blind-side attack and off-loaded for flanker Rigney to touch down.
Warwick converted and added the extras to his own 52nd-minute try, created again by a Keane break.
Although Bowen, on as a half-time replacement for Hercus, reduced the deficit to 26-19 with a 30-metre penalty, Connacht claimed their third try on the hour through Slemen.
Scarlets director of rugby Gareth Jenkins:
"I'm disappointed but have to give credit to Connacht for a second-half performance that simply stunned us. "We had a good first half which we finished strongly, but they struck us hard after the break and then defended superbly."
Connacht coach Michael Bradley:
"What you saw was the result of the loss in Catania. "We put pressure on ourselves to get a result and it happened."
Connacht: Mostyn, Yapp, Mailei, Matthews, McPhillips, Warwick, Keane, Hogan, Fogerty, Clarke, Gannon, Farley, Muldoon, O'Connor, Rigney.
Replacements: McHugh for Mailei (67), Slemen for Warwick (57), Tierney for Keane (60), Merrigan for Fogerty (55), Lacey for O'Connor (55), Gallagher for Rigney (77).
Not Used: McFarland.
Scarlets: B Davies, Selley, D James, King, Daniels, Hercus, Stuart-Smith, Madden, Gravelle, Dunlea, Afeaki, A. Jones, D Jones, G Thomas, A Popham.
Replacements: G Evans for King (69), Bowen for Hercus (40), L Davies for Stuart-Smith (57), J Davies for Dunlea (32), Cooper for Afeaki (57), Quinnell for D Jones (69).
Not Used: Rees.
Referee: Graeme Hannah (Scotland)
Att: 2000.